The End of The Beginning – Black Sabbath say 2013’s ’13’ will mark the end of band’s studio career

This Black Sabbath article was written by Al Hall, a GIGsoup contributor

“It’s the end of Sabbath, believe me”. With those words Ozzy Osborne announced that the world has witnessed the last Black Sabbath album. The godfathers of heavy metal have announced today that their chart-topping 2013 LP 13 will mark the end of band’s studio career.

This news will be disappointing to Sabbath’s worldwide fan base, who had been led to believe that the band’s farewell tour The End (which kicks off early next year) would be accompanied by one final album. Indeed, this decision comes just a year after Ozzy told Metal Hammer that he would “fly to the fucking moon for it (another album) if I have to”. There has, however, always been a note of uncertainty regarding a follow up to 13. Guitarist Tony Iommi stated soon after that album was released “I don’t know if that would be a good idea after this one, because this one’s done so well. I’m sure we’d all like to do one. But I don’t know.”

Sabbath have, therefore, taken the honourable route. Rather than risking another album in order to make “another fuckin’ sack full of cash” Ozzy and co. have chosen to go out on a high, with a fantastic album that leaves no doubt that they are the true kings of metal. Before we fully consign Black Sabbath to the history books, however, fans have one last chance to pay homage to the band that spawned music’s heaviest genre when The End hits the road in January.